Iwinski to Focus On Physician Quality With Shriners Children's Medical Group

After more than two decades of providing care at Shriners Children’s Lexington, Henry “Chip” Iwinski, M.D., is on to a new role within the Shriners Children’s healthcare system.

Effective Oct. 23, 2023, Dr. Iwinski has resigned from his role as Chief of Staff of Shriners Children’s Lexington to take on the role of Chief Physician Quality Officer of the Shriners Children’s Medical Group.

The Shriners Children's Medical Group supports Shriners Children’s vision to increase access to pediatric healthcare and leverage opportunities for the healthcare system to provide high-quality care to more children in more places. Dr. Iwinski will lead the medical group’s quality initiative.

Dr. Iwinski began practicing medicine in 1990, and came on staff as an orthopedic surgeon at Shriners Children’s Lexington in September 1998. In January 2010, Dr. Iwinski was named chief of staff, a role in which he provided leadership and oversight for the medical center’s physicians and other providers.

During his tenure at Shriners Children's Lexington, Dr. Iwinski has provided world-class care to thousands of patients, assisted in groundbreaking research, and provided education to hundreds of residents who have gone on to be orthopedic providers. Playing a role in this three-part mission has been the most rewarding aspect of his time at Shriners Children's Lexington.

“We have a great team of dedicated people working together to improve the health of the patient for whom we are privileged to care,” he said. “Shriners Children’s and our supporters give us the ability to practice medicine in its purest form, without the financial burdens that can interfere with providing the best care.”

During his time as chief of staff, Dr. Iwinski helped guide the staff through the transition from a hospital model at the Richmond Road facility to a medical center/ambulatory surgery center model at the new state-of-the-art facility that opened on Conn Terrace in 2017.

“We have been able to create a collaborative relationship with our academic partner at UK HealthCare that has improved the care for our patients,” Dr. Iwinski said. “The resources that both Shriners Children’s and UK HealthCare provide have resulted in improved safety, efficiency, effectiveness and increased volumes.”

In his new role with the Shriners Children’s Medical Group, Dr. Iwinski will focus on physician quality, which is critical to the model of care provided at Shriners Children’s. “The quality of care we provided is what differentiates us from other healthcare providers,” he said. “In this new role, I will have the opportunity to impact more patients by keeping quality as our primary objective as we face an evolving healthcare environment.”

As he transitions away from direct patient care, Dr. Iwinski said he is thankful for the trust that so many placed in him throughout his career. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my patients and families from throughout the years for entrusting me with your health and well-being,” he said. “Your trust and support have been the greatest rewards in my journey as a healthcare provider.”

Tony Lewgood, administrator of Shriners Children’s Lexington, said Dr. Iwinski has been a great partner in advancing care at the medical center over the years. “Dr. Iwinski combines the knowledge and skills of an excellent surgeon with outstanding human relation skills and fiscal responsibility – a combination you seldom find in a physician leader,” Lewgood said. “Dr. Iwinski has been an invaluable member of our organization, and we wish him the best as he moves forward in his career.”

In the interim, Vishwas Talwalkar, M.D., a long-time orthopedic surgeon at Shriners Children's Lexington, will serve as chief of staff. Dr. Talwalkar has served patients at Shriners Children’s Lexington for 24 years, his entire medical career.

“I am very excited to continue to be part of the outstanding team here and continue to advance the care of children,” Dr. Talwalkar said. “I strive to continue to build on the excellent foundation that has been established here. I appreciate the opportunity to care for children and families with other people who really care deeply about them in the best way possible, as well as the opportunities for teaching and research. This is really the best job I could imagine.”

Dr. Iwinski said he has the utmost trust and respect for Dr. Talwalkar as he steps into this role. “Dr. Talwalkar is an extremely talented surgeon and an accomplished leader,” he said. “So much of our success to this point is directly attributed to his engagement and skill. It makes my transition so much easier to leave my role in such capable hands.”

Lewgood echoed Dr. Iwinski’s sentiments. “Dr. Talwalkar is a phenomenal physician leader, and I have full confidence our facility will maintain its successful trajectory with him as our interim chief of staff,” he said.